CRIME IN THE CARIBBEAN

According to Ronald Sander (2010), Crime in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is fast becoming an overwhelming display exceeding the capability of the national police forces to cope with. Drug trafficking is one of the crimes that helped develop other crimes such as murders, provoked robberies and even kidnapping.

According to Jacqueline Charles (2017), Caribbean countries present themselves using settings where sandy beaches, calming calypso and a laid-back lifestyle are the most prominent perspective of the country. But behind the relaxing and joyous presentation, the region also harbours a darker side which includes violent crime and tolerance for domestic violence. For example, when Trinidad and Tobago are presented to tourists and people outside of the Caribbean you Carnival, the beautiful beaches and nightlife. You never see the crime rates which is extremely high for such a small island.

                  

                              

Video showing the top 10 most dangerous Caribbean islands

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=240XDGW-MFY&t=193s

Crime as a social problem in the Caribbean

Definition of social problems

 Social problems are the basic factors that create harm toward society. For example; poverty, overpopulation and inequality. In this blog, the social problem/issue, crime would be discussed.

Crime as a Social Problem

 Anything linked to crime has been considered a disaster to society. Everything involving crime is negative and always require the presence of the police force.

According to Professor Hutchinson (2012), The existence of criminal activity has become the Caribbean’s most pressing social problem. For example, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago are listed as the countries with the greatest amount of murders per capita rate across the world. Crime is a social driving feature of society in the Caribbean. Criminal activity increases when the systems, such as the police force that is set up to stabilize and protect society are inadequate. This inflicts a sense of hopelessness, anxiety and fear in society. 

Using the functionalist view I would say crime in the Caribbean ruins society's image and revenue. Caribbean countries are known to use tourism as a way to gain revenue for the country. If a country is full of crime tourists might find it very risky to visit for vacation, thus decreasing the countries income. From the interactions view the Caribbean would be labelled or discriminated against. For example, even though Trinidad and Jamaica have high crime rates there are parts in the country in which crime is infrequent. These two countries are so beautiful that they should not be labelled based on the crime rate.
Crime has many elements, but these elements are tied together by one similarity, society. Crime is a burden to society. As society evolves so does crime and the destructive characteristics of crime. (CNW, 2017).

References

Charles J (17^th May 2017), The secretin paradise: Violence mars Caribbean life, Miami Herald.

Retrieved from: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/article150718772.html

Hutchinson G (2012). The Brutal Impact of Crime on Public Health, UWI Today

Retrieved from: https://sta.uwi.edu/uwitoday/archive/january_2012/article8.asp

Sanders R ( 25^th August 2010), Crime in the Caribbean: An overwhelming phenomenon, The Round Table, The Commonwealth Journal of International AffairsVolume 92, 2003 - Issue 370, Taylor Francis Online.

Retrieved from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0035853032000111107?journalCode=ctrt20